IN THE MOOD THE SWING ERA, 1935–1945. Swing Music and American Culture The swing era: 1935–1945 The swing era: 1935–1945 –Beginning in 1935, a new style.

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Presentation on theme: "IN THE MOOD THE SWING ERA, 1935–1945. Swing Music and American Culture The swing era: 1935–1945 The swing era: 1935–1945 –Beginning in 1935, a new style."— Presentation transcript:

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Swing Music and American Culture The swing era: 1935–1945 The swing era: 1935–1945 –Beginning in 1935, a new style of jazz- inspired music called “swing” transformed American popular music. –Initially developed in the late 1920s by black dance bands in New York, Chicago, and Kansas City The word “swing” (like “jazz,” “blues,” and “rock ’n’ roll”) derives from African American English. The word “swing” (like “jazz,” “blues,” and “rock ’n’ roll”) derives from African American English.

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Big Bands Between 1935 and 1945, hundreds of large dance orchestras directed by celebrity bandleaders dominated the national hit parade Between 1935 and 1945, hundreds of large dance orchestras directed by celebrity bandleaders dominated the national hit parade Many of the bands crisscrossed the country in buses, playing for dances and concerts at local dance halls, theaters, and colleges. Many of the bands crisscrossed the country in buses, playing for dances and concerts at local dance halls, theaters, and colleges.

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Swing and the Music Business By the late 1930s, the record industry had begun to recover from the Great Depression and the rise of radio. By the late 1930s, the record industry had begun to recover from the Great Depression and the rise of radio. Between 1935 and 1945, well over half of the records that sold more than a million copies were made by big dance bands. Between 1935 and 1945, well over half of the records that sold more than a million copies were made by big dance bands. Swing music pulled the American music industry out of the Great Depression. Swing music pulled the American music industry out of the Great Depression.

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Dance Styles The lindy hop The lindy hop Named in honor of Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight (1927) Named in honor of Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight (1927) –Differed from popular jazz dance styles of the early 1920s  Whereas the older dances emphasized bouncy, up-and- down movements, the lindy was smoother, with more fluid horizontal movements.  The lindy provided greater scope for improvisation, including the “breakaway,” a moment when dancers would part company and dance solo.

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Harlem New York’s Harlem had many famous nightclubs and dance halls: New York’s Harlem had many famous nightclubs and dance halls: –The Savoy Ballroom –The Cotton Club –The Apollo Theater Originally populated by European immigrant groups Originally populated by European immigrant groups By the late 1920s, Harlem was home to a substantial, well-educated, and relatively prosperous black middle class. By the late 1920s, Harlem was home to a substantial, well-educated, and relatively prosperous black middle class.

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The Cotton Club “Black and tan” nightclubs like the Cotton Club were generally owned and operated by Italian and Jewish mobsters. “Black and tan” nightclubs like the Cotton Club were generally owned and operated by Italian and Jewish mobsters. The Cotton Club’s audiences were predominantly white The Cotton Club’s audiences were predominantly white The most successful dance orchestras at the Cotton Club—led by Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway—provided musical accompaniment for stage acts featuring scantily clad “brown beauties,” men in ape costumes, and jungle scenery. The most successful dance orchestras at the Cotton Club—led by Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway—provided musical accompaniment for stage acts featuring scantily clad “brown beauties,” men in ape costumes, and jungle scenery.

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Black and White in the Swing Era The swing era represented a step forward in cultural communication across racial boundaries. The swing era represented a step forward in cultural communication across racial boundaries. –Black people often attended concerts by white dance bands. –White people began to study and imitate black culture with greater passion and in greater numbers than ever before. Not a relationship of full equality Not a relationship of full equality –Only a handful of dance bands were racially integrated –Even the most popular of black dance bands faced serious economic and social disadvantages

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The Big Bands Brought a youthful energy back to American popular music. Brought a youthful energy back to American popular music. –Its core audience initially consisted of college- age adults and teenagers. Swing was an exciting, brash, vital music, inspired by black aesthetics and consonant with the growing optimism of a nation emerging from a devastating economic depression. Swing was an exciting, brash, vital music, inspired by black aesthetics and consonant with the growing optimism of a nation emerging from a devastating economic depression.

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Features of Big-Band Swing Music Call-and-response Call-and-response –One of the signal features of swing music –Central to African American musical traditions –Beginning in the late 1920s, black dance band arrangers began to apply this principle to ensemble writing, treating the brass and reed instruments as separate sections and setting them off against one another. –This basic approach—in which “conversations” were set up between parts of a band—was later adopted by white bands.

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Features of Big Band Swing Music Rather than the “boom-chick” two-beat rhythms of syncopated dance band music of the 1920s, the rhythmic feeling of swing music is more continuous and flowing. Rather than the “boom-chick” two-beat rhythms of syncopated dance band music of the 1920s, the rhythmic feeling of swing music is more continuous and flowing. –Bass plays on all four beats in a measure, rather than just the first and third beats, a technique called “walking” the bass. –The drummer adds to this effect by playing all four beats with the bass drum pedal (a technique called “four on the floor”) and playing a regular tapping pattern on the largest cymbal (a “ride” cymbal).

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Listening: “Wrappin’ It Up” Music and arrangement by Fletcher Henderson (1898–1952) Music and arrangement by Fletcher Henderson (1898–1952) –Recorded in 1934 in New York, performed by Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra The Henderson band is considerably larger than most syncopated dance bands of the 1920s: The Henderson band is considerably larger than most syncopated dance bands of the 1920s: –Five brass instruments (three trumpets and two trombones) –Four reed instruments (saxophones and clarinets) –Rhythm section consisting of piano, bass, drums, and guitar –Total of thirteen musicians

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Listening: “Wrappin’ It Up” Has all the characteristics of swing music: Has all the characteristics of swing music: –A big, full, smooth ensemble texture –Lots of call-and-response patterns between the brass and reeds –A steady, flowing groove, with the bass, drums, and guitar playing on all four beats, while giving a slight push to the second and fourth beats.

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Listening: “Wrappin’ It Up” Fletcher Henderson’s “Wrappin’ It Up” is a great example not only of the rhythmic flow and texture of swing music but also of the balance between simplicity and complexity that characterizes the best big- band arranging. Fletcher Henderson’s “Wrappin’ It Up” is a great example not only of the rhythmic flow and texture of swing music but also of the balance between simplicity and complexity that characterizes the best big- band arranging.  The arrangement was later provided to Benny Goodman, who recorded it in 1938.

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Benny Goodman (1909–86) The “King of Swing” The “King of Swing” Born in Chicago, the son of working-class eastern European Jewish immigrants Born in Chicago, the son of working-class eastern European Jewish immigrants Made his first records under his own name in 1927 Made his first records under his own name in 1927 Freelance musician during the depression years Freelance musician during the depression years

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Benny Goodman (1909–86) His career was boosted by John Hammond (1910–87) His career was boosted by John Hammond (1910–87) –Hammond, an influential jazz enthusiast and promoter, was an A&R (artists and repertoire) man with Columbia Records. Hammond arranged Goodman’s first recording dates with Columbia. Hammond arranged Goodman’s first recording dates with Columbia. He pushed the band in the direction of the more strongly jazz-influenced music played by most black dance bands. He pushed the band in the direction of the more strongly jazz-influenced music played by most black dance bands. Hammond also helped Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, and (much later) Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen secure recording contracts with Columbia Records. Hammond also helped Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, and (much later) Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen secure recording contracts with Columbia Records.

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Benny Goodman (1909–86) In 1934, the Goodman Band appeared on the NBC Radio Show Let’s Dance. In 1934, the Goodman Band appeared on the NBC Radio Show Let’s Dance. The Goodman Band embarked on a tour in summer 1935. The Goodman Band embarked on a tour in summer 1935. –The tour did not begin successfully. –Audiences were not interested in the “hot” arrangements that the band wanted to play. –The tour bottomed out in Denver; audiences wanted their money back. –They were a huge success when they reached California and performed at the Palomar Ballroom. –West Coast audiences had heard the band on the Let’s Dance radio show. –This success signaled the birth of the swing era.